Quarry 't Rooth

[Frank de Wit]

I'm writing a small article on minerals in Flint
Next saturday there's a tour to a quarry where I will be doing some fieldwork for that article: the quarry 't Rooth near Bemelen in Limburg
see http://www.strahlen.org/vp/nl/rooth/

the tour is organized by the NGV Limburg dept.
see http://www.geo.uu.nl/ngv/afdelingen/limburg/excursies.htm#tRooth

if you want to join, please  
be at the gate there at exactly 09:00 or mail me in advance

[Frank de Wit]

is it possible to find Hyalit-xx (-Opal)  in cavities in Flint ?
perhaps it's found somewhere else in the same parageneses?

I found something like that this morning in 't Rooth in little 'white transparant balls' and 'stalactites' inside a cavity in Flint ; well, it looks like the Hyalit-xx I have here from Valec/CZ ; or are that just 'Chalcedon'-stalactites, because Flint actually is Chalcedon?

they're both SiO2-xH2O and look the same
and if U read this http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/am/vol76/AM76_1863.pdf , it's not easy to determine what's what... (massive opal/hyalith, moganite, chalcedon/flint), but perhaps in crystals it is possible to tell them apart?

on moganite also see: lapis-2001-12-13-duitsland-thuringen-ullersreuth p.18 and lapis-2001-78-78-neue-mineralien p.18

[Robin Bakker]

hi,

I don't know about flint from 't Rooth, but at Eben-Emael (Belgium) I found something similar (colourless, glassy stalactites - but no balls), which is without a doubt Chaledone. Since the localities are not far from each other, with the same stratigraphical layers exposed (Maastrichtian), I would assume the chemistry is roughly the same, and your mineral is also Chalcedone.

But who knows, maybe nature had something different in mind for this particular cavity . Would be interesting to know what conditions favor Chalcedone or Opale formation (the same thing as in petrified wood?).

Robin

[Bert de Ruiter]

Hi there,

After working hours, I made some tours through the South-Limburg region. On one of these tours I passed Quarry 't Rooth. I parked my car on the Eastside of the quarry and found a spot to take some pictures. Near that spot the fence was destroyed and repaired. It looks like some people payed an illegal visit to this quarry.

Strange to try to enter this quarry illegaly, since it's open for visitors every saturday. So why take a risk if you can get in through the main gate.

Bert

[Bert de Ruiter]

And to more pictures.

[Robin Bakker]

Near that spot the fence was destroyed and repaired. It looks like some people payed an illegal visit to this quarry. Strange to try to enter this quarry illegaly, since it's open for visitors every saturday. So why take a risk if you can get in through the main gate.

maybe just some trespassers.. or collectors who didn't like the crowd on saturdays (it can get quite busy)

but you are right of course, we should be happy they let us in at all!

[Jamal Khan]

Hello Strahlers,

does someone know more details about the opening hours and accessing conditions of the Quarry 't Rooth?

As I'm in desperate need of some big flint nodules, I considered passing some time between xmas and 2008,
but if it's likely to be closed, I'd prefer to know in advance, as I do have a few hundred km to go 

Cheers, Pat

[Bert de Ruiter]

Hi there Jamal,

As far as I know, the Quarry is closed during the winter period. This year it was open on every saturday between 9.00 untill 15.30 hours during the period of 7-4-2007 t/m 31-10-2007.

Bert

[Frank de Wit]

Jamal,
there are lots of (underground) places to collect flint here in the region. we can go there together...
Tim&I still have some fieldwork research to do on the mineralogy of flint for an article
GF

[Jamal Khan]

Hello dear friends;)

Well I'm really sorry for not having answered til now, but I've been awfully busy. Now I think I can spare more time, as I do intend to intensify my activity as a strahler!
Indeed, it would of course be a fabulous thing to do, that means meet and dig together;) (and have beer )
I'll have to wait for the warmer periods of the year though, as I intend to sleep in my tent. Maybe it will be warm enough in may, then I'd even visit the symposium (if it's still possible)

cheers, Jamal

[Frank de Wit]

I think it's still possible to visit the symposium
When I'm at home that weekend you can sleep at my place too
Tim&I still have to do the fieldwork... we had some other things to do first (new house, babies, work etc : Tim...) hahaha
Cheers! Frank

[Tim Welting]

We could do some fieldwork this summer Frank, the baby and house are ready..(for now)...

Tim

[Jamal Khan]

I think it's still possible to visit the symposium
When I'm at home that weekend you can sleep at my place too
Tim&I still have to do the fieldwork... we had some other things to do first (new house, babies, work etc : Tim...) hahaha
Cheers! Frank

Soundz gud;)
 but unfortunately I can't say fe sure
Thy generous proposition greatly shattereth my deepest belief in the overpowering eternal evil  in the essence of mankind!

Probably I will only be able to attend one event, either the symp OR the meeting. I think I'll know in a week's time.
Of course, I understand that at the meeting I won't even be near flint, but on the other hand, I'll meet millions of strahlers;))

C ye mon, japak